Helen Balusik: May 25, 1928 Evanston Ill.

Dear Friends,
Another weekend gone. I hope you had a good one. Mine was good. No drama for me.
The reason I was late last time was that the husband and I had gone a little two day trip to Door county. We had not been there in over 15 years. Boy has that place changed. There is a lot to see. I like the goats on top of a restaurant. Maybe I'll share the picture at the end of this post.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Helen:

As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

                Thursday evening
Dearest Howard:
  Received your nice
letter the other day & sure
am pleased to get
them you can be sure!
Well how is Howard,
anyhow, now I hope
you are not working
too hard. I sure am
kept busy these spring
days. We usually have
twenty-five people in
for supper every nite
so you see that means
work.
We had a nice shower
this evening I was

            2
invited to a party but
it scared me out so I
stayed at home writing
good idea eh?
I suppose you are
dreaming by this time
for its after ten all
ready.
My, but isn't spring
going by fast - soon
is June again the
month of Roses, oh
boy isn't it grand to
be alive sometimes
I mean always.
Won't be long & I will
have to be packing
up for home sweet

             3
home again. Don't the
years roll by fast after
you get to be over twenty
why a year seems like
a month.
Well next week is
decoration Day. Do you
celebrate? We get off
that day so we sure
are going to celebrate,
because a holiday doesn't
come very often. They
are suppose to have
a big parade here
so I must go & see
that if nothing else.
Last year I was home
for Decoration Day - my

              4
brother & I had a good
old time riding around
in his roadster- Then
he picked up his girl
& the three of us went
for a long drive. We
could have drove to
Ogema - (ha Ha) eh
Howard- if I would
have known you are
there - we wouldn't
have missed it.
We girls have bunches
of lilacs up here in
our room my, if they
don't smell grand, I'll
tell the world. I do
love them anyhow, don't you?

              5
            continued
I believe I am on
the last sheet of my
paper so I see where
I have to get more
if I want to write
any more letters, Don't
you think? so?
  well Howard, are you
planting your garden
yet? Hows the straw-
berries have any short
cakes by now? We
have short cakes here
very often oh, and does
it tastes good with a
lot of berries on it
don't you like em??
  I guess I will have

to say good nite & go
to bed-
Hoping you are a good
boy always.
Write soon.
     I remain
          As Ever
             Your Pal
              Helen x
P.S.
Please excuse
my scratching &
mistakes, won't you?
And how do you like
the snaps? Burn
them up if you don't
want them-

I wonder what kind of restaurant she worked in that didn't have many people for supper. Or maybe that was a lot at that time. Maybe it was a very formal place that served seven course meals. Those kind of meals take a long to to get through, or so I hear. I've never had a chance to experience that kind of supper. Maybe some day.
I hope everyone had a good Decoration Day and that the weather was  just right for the parade.
I wonder what her brothers roadster looked like?
Maybe something like this one:
 

I wonder what kind of snaps she sent him. Did he like them or did he burn them? The world will never know.

Here are two cards from a new set of Viewer cards. I'm calling this set, Scenes from New York:

 The Broadway Squad, New York's Mounted Police.

A Detail of New York's Finest Going on Duty.

I'm not sure what year this is from. Whenever I can I might try to find pictures of the same area so I can compare the changes that have happened.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

On the back someone wrote: Manhattan Island taken
                                              from ferry on the way
                                               to the Statue of Liberty

I thought with the theme of Decoration Day and New York, this was a good fit to put here. it was taken during someones senior class trip.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today.
I hope you will come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Helen Balusik: May 15, 1928 Evanston, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. Mind was good. I had a busy day on Saturday. I went to the Edgar steam show. If you like old tractors and flea markets, it's a good place to go. Lots of walking and and  a lot of things to look at.The weather on Saturday was cloudy but while we were there it didn't rain.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Helen:

As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

                     May 15/28
"Dear Howard"!
  well how are you
getting along out there
Howard, I hope just fine.
Was very pleased with
your letter always enjoy
reading them.
Today is my day off so
I was down Chicago most
of the day but now I am
back - If it doesn't
rain tonight I am
going down to the
lake get some good
fresh air & steal some
lilac blossoms, don't
you want to come along?

Really everything looks
wonderful out doors it
sure is hard to work inside
in weather like this.
You asked me when I was
coming home oh, either for
the 4th of July or little later
it all depends. I sure am
anxious to go home again
seems ages since I was
there.
Well last Sunday was Mother's
Day- The people here all wore
either a red or a white
carnation that was to signify
whether you have a mother
or not. If living they wore a
red one if dead why a white
one. Many times I wish
my mother was still living.
Imagine pretty soon is
Decoration Day. We all get off
that day so I sure am glad.
A bunch of us are planning on
taking a trip to Milwaukee some
time but I'm hoping we can
sometime this month. It's
such a long time since I was
there that I have almost
forgotten what it looks
like. I'm able to travel

Chicago pretty well now
but still I could get lost
if I didn't watch my step.
Well Howard, it seems I'm
so out of news I don't know
what to write - You always
can write such long ones
& interesting-
  How is your radio? I am
pretty tired of them things you
can't help but hear it every
where you go here in the
city. At times I think I would
rather have a phonograph
then that-

                 2
Did you hear or read about
the three great flyers
that came to Chicago the
other Day. Many of them
are trying to see if they
can beat Lindberg's speed
but I don't think they
have done it yet.
We will have to try &
beat them or else no
one else will, will they
Howard?
  I am getting hungry
now I guess I will run
down in the kitchen &
see what I can find in

the line of food.
Gaw I would love a
strawberry shortcake, oh my!
Well Howard, I think I
shall proceed & close
this letter of mine oh I
bet you get tired of reading
these letters, well I don't
blame you if you do.
I really hope I can hear
from you soon again.
Be a good boy now
and write soon.
        I remain
                Your friend
                   always
                     Helen

I wonder if she was able to get back home to Phillips after the 4th or not.
What do you think of the tradition back then with the carnations? I think it is something that should have stayed. Maybe it should be started again.
As for Decoration Day it is now called Memorial Day.

Which do you like better?

I think she meant Charles Linbergh. The year before he had done his famous trip across the Atlantic.


I wonder why she didn't like radios? But in a way I can understand why she does not like listening to so much at once every where you go.

I wonder if she got to have strawberry short cake?

Well here are two more viewer cards from The Fun With Friends set:

These cards are faded so I did my best to darken them.
I wonder if I will ever find out who took these pictures.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

I think this is Grandpa with a couple of chickens. No idea how old he was, if this is him.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today.
I hope you will come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy